BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Umberger was sentenced to seven years at the Department of Corrections, followed by eight years probation on charges of aggravated battery.
"I only hope that one day he will be able to forgive me," Jessica Umberger says of attack on Daniel Vukovich. #WFTV pic.twitter.com/5nHSqnoHvK
— Melonie Holt (@MHoltWFTV) July 8, 2016
Thomas pleaded guilty to second-degree attempted murder earlier this year.
Another co-defendant, Rebecca Gotay, admitted to driving Thomas to Vukovich's Satellite Beach home.
Gotay was also sentenced to seven years in prison and eight years probation. She also apologized in court.
“I'm so sorry. If I had known how far it was going to go, I would have done something to stop it,” Gotay said.
Rebecca Gotay sentenced to 7 years in prison with 8 years probation. #WFTV pic.twitter.com/dYCvtU8GQf
— Melonie Holt (@MHoltWFTV) July 8, 2016
Officials said the group nearly beat Vukovich to death in his driveway for allegedly stealing marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
Thomas is serving a 10-year sentence in the case.
“She (Umberger) was absolutely the follower,” said psychologist Dr. Susan Marie Spicer.
Witnesses for Umberger told the court Friday that at the time of the crime, she couldn't appreciate the consequence of her actions.
“I got hit and I had an indent the size of a golf ball in my head because the skull fragments couldn’t be recovered. I got two (indents) over here, then I got one to my cheek,” Vukovich said.
Vukovich doesn’t remember the actual assault, but is still living with the consequences.
“You can let something haunt you for the rest of your life, or move past it,” he said.
Umberger said she is now taking responsibility.
Cox Media Group
